Daily Prayer with Bishop Sandra: Ordinary time Fall 2020

Bishop Sandra shares the story of one of our newly commissioned pastors and how he heard God's call at Memorial UMC in Williamson 15 years ago.

Are we listening for God's voice? How are we encouraging others to not only hear God's voice - but to respond to God's call and claim on their lives?

We give thanks for God, whose love is extravagant and generous!

Today's prayer is for essential workers, those who never thought that they'd be on the front lines. We give thanks for their care and concern for others in this season.
Bishop Sandra leads us in prayers of Thanksgiving today.

Bishop Sandra and Rev. David Donathan share the Prayer of St Francis with us today.

Lord make me an instrument of your peace...

Have you ever thought about what makes a bridge reliable?

Bishop Sandra's reflection and prayer this morning explores expansion joints and how they relate to our relationship with God and others.

Who is a spiritual friend, and/or what is a spiritual practice that helps you to get to where God is calling you to go?

Today Bishop Sandra reminds us to pause to find beauty and joy each and every day.
 
What is a sign of beauty that you saw over the weekend? Share a picture in the comments below.

Bishop Sandra leads us in prayer as we celebrate Jesus' majesty!

Today we celebrate Christ the King Sunday - and the last Sunday of the Christian year.

Whose Side are you Leaning On?

Bishop Sandra encourages us to think about those whose lives may feel out of kilter and how we can show them and tell them about leaning on Jesus for support and hope.

Today Bishop Sandra is joined by Rev. David Donathan to pray using music. The scripture text for the piece David is playing is Psalm 5:3. May you be blessed, and refreshed, this day.
Join Bishop Sandra in celebrating Native American Awareness Month. This is a time when we focus on the well being of, and our relationship with, our Native American neighbors.
 
Bishop Sandra invites us to spend some time learning more about the history of the people who inhabited this region in the past, live in this region now, and who will be with us in the future so that we may help to build harmony and community.
 
How can you honor Native American peoples?
Micah 6 is the inspiration for today's prayer and reflection time with Bishop Sandra.
 
She invites us to consider: How can you love kindness today? How will you get yourself out of the way, so that you may hear God's call on how to serve compassionately, with grace, to meet the needs of others?

Have there ever been times that you felt that you just couldn't pray?

Bishop Sandra shares from her own experience about how she is able to gain strength from the prayers of others when times are difficult.

She invites us to ponder this question: "Who today needs your prayers so that they may step more fully into life?"

In a time when many are weary from Covid-19, masking and physical distancing Bishop Sandra invites us to pause to pray for our pastors. Since March they have had to learn to preach and teach in different ways. And along the way they are reaching new people for Christ - praise God!
 
1 Thessalonians and Timothy provide scripture texts this morning as we pray for our pastors and lay leadership across the West Virginia Conference.
 
What are some ways that you can express appreciation for your pastor and lay leadership?
Rain, life-giving, powerful rain, reminds us of the transforming power of God. We give thanks for the rain, the rain that; 'falls on the just and unjust alike.'
 
Today Bishop Sandra also lifts up those who lead our disaster recovery ministries - we give thanks for those who are called to serve others in all seasons.
Bishop Sandra reflects on Psalm 78, a psalm that tries to help us understand a good standard for living as a follower of God. She challenges us to focus on the wonders and goodness of God - and to rehearse the stories of God: how God has brought us through tough times in the past, and how God's faithfulness will continue forever and ever.
 
(She also mentions a scene from Harry Potter - so be sure to watch!)
Glory sightings - joy-filled moments - are so important as the days grow shorter. Our days are made even better when we share glad tidings with others!
 
Bishop Sandra asks us - what are you going to do today to proclaim the peace of Christ which brings healing and new life?

Psalm 72, a psalm that reminds us that we are precious in God's sight, is the scripture passage that guides our prayer focus this morning.

Bishop Sandra invites us to think about how we will be messengers for God, opening our eyes to meet the needs of others in Christ's name.

Today is Veteran's Day, a day when we honor those who have served our country. We have many across the West Virginia Conference who have served in the armed forces and we give thanks for their service.

Bishop Sandra sits with 'homeless Jesus' as she shares today's reflection, based on Deuteronomy 15:11.

Together we pray for those who are homeless, those who need medical care, and for those who just need to know that someone, somewhere, really does care about them. As we pray we seek to be able to see the needs around us.

Bishop Sandra invites us to discern the mission and ministry to which God is calling us in this season.

In today's reflection, Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball is joined by Shea James, Director of Young Disciples and Outdoor Ministries to talk about the young people across the conference and they lead us in prayer for the health and welfare of children of all ages.
 
Shea also shares about Fall Workshop, which will look different this year due to Covid-19. To learn more about Fall Workshop follow this link: https://www.wvumc.org/fall-workshop-2020-edition/
 
Fall workshop is an event for youth in 6th-12th grades - all are welcome!
Reading from Revelation 3:20, Bishop Sandra challenges us to hear God's Word with fresh ears and to reflect on a couple of questions:
 
1)Where have we closed Jesus out? and
2)where do we need to open a door to open a new pathway so that we might be God's light for the world?

Matthew 22:34-40 is our prayer focus today as Bishop Sandra share's today's reflection from Chester United Methodist Church in the Northern District.

As we consider how we are connected to God and one another, we are asked to ponder: How have I shown God's love to another today?

As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longeth after you
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship you.
 
As we pause to pray this morning with Bishop Sandra, we pause to listen and receive the gifts that God offers us: 'help us this day to make you our hearts desire.'
Bishop Sandra reflects on a passage from Revelation 21 and leads us in prayer through song.
 
Who needs to hear these words of healing and hope today?
Bishop Sandra invites us to pause, take a deep breath, and join her in prayer this day.
 
Reflecting on Psalm 146:5-10 we are able to trust in God's goodness and faithfulness to work in and through us for the good, the common good, of all people.

On this election day, Bishop Sandra reminds us to remember our faith commitment and grounding.

How does the gospel compel us to respond as faithful Christians in our community?

Bishop Sandra leads us in a prayer based on Colossians 3:12 and this entry from John Wesley's diary as we prepare our hearts and minds for election day:
 
October 6, 1774 "I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them,
1) To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy;
2) to speak no evil of the person they voted against; and
3) to take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.” - John Wesley
All Saints Day, November 1, 2020
Bishop Sandra leads us in prayer from Beech Hill United Methodist Church, in the Western District reflecting on Hebrews 12:1-2.
 
Who are the saints in your life the ones through whom Christ's light shines for you?
Psalm 104 is our partner in prayer today. We give thanks for the goodness and bounty of God's good creation!
 
How can I help communicate the abundance of God's creation today? How can I be a better laborer for God's kingdom?

What joy there is when we come together to work for the Body of Christ!

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball leads us in prayer, with John 3:16-17 as our morning scripture lesson.

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball invites us to contemplate the pathways that we have all over West Virginia, and how we are invited to see these as pathways of hope, healing, and love.
 
Who needs your kindness and how are we invited to see these as pathways of hope, healing, and love.
Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball shares a passage from Proverbs 8:32-36 and invites us to turn our thoughts and prayers toward the children in our communities.
 
How can you bring hope, health, happiness, and joy to a child in this season?
Bridges invite us to reflect on how important it is to be connected. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are connected with and to Christ, God's son. And, as the church we get to be the bridge to connect people to Christ!
 
What action can you and your congregation discern, with the power of the Holy Spirit, so that others may be reached so that they too may dwell in God's house forever?
 
Bishop Sandra reads from Acts 1:6-8 and shares a prayer from The Africana Worship Book: "We Are Helpless without You” by Sherrie Dons
Bishop Sandra shares from Psalm 103 this morning, celebrating the goodness of God. "O Lord...help us to remember each moment of each day to bless your holy name."
 
What does it mean to bless the Lord with all that is in us?
Who do we need to meet - over there, on the other side of the bridge - who is seeking Jesus Christ?
 
"Do not fear, for I am with you." Isaiah 43 is our guiding text this morning.
 
Bishop Sandra invites us to connect with God through prayer, and then witness, or share our faith, with someone we meet today with confidence and God's love.
"I am Baptized, I AM a child of God."
 
1 John 3:1-3 is the scripture text that leads us deeper into prayer this day.

Today we pray, trusting that we are indeed God's children - and God's love will not let us go as we lean into the promises of the days yet to be revealed.

Bishop Sandra answers some questions that she is often asked about prayer:

What is prayer?
How do I pray?

Watch to learn how Bishop Sandra lives life as prayer.

Bishop Sandra greets us from Point Pleasant, where the Kanawha River meets the Ohio River. Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball invites us to remember our baptism and to listen deeply for God's voice.
 
As we move through this season of prayer and discernment ask yourself: "what does it mean for you to walk in love with the significant people in your life?"

Isaiah 51 is the scripture passage that informs this morning's prayer with Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball. She encourages us all to be "God's light to the nations."

Bishop Sandra also shares a prayer from the Africana Worship Book “Lord, Free your People From False Beliefs” by Tony Peterson.

School children, teachers, staff and administration are on all of our hearts in the midst of Covid. Today Bishop Sandra invites us to pray for our West Virginia Conference Schools.
 
How are our local churches connecting with and supporting our schools - and those who teach our children, both at home and in the school?

This morning Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball explores the Gospel of John 12:20-26.

As you listen please consider: What human needs abound in your community?

Join Bishop Sandra and take these needs to Jesus in prayer.

October 18, 2020
Laity Sunday

We give thanks for the partnerships that laity and clergy have with one another across the West Virginia conference.

Bishop Sandra shares John 1:35 and invites us to grow in faith AND help others do the same.